The Major. Good storyline. Interesting characters. Great potential. Poor execution.
High Point: Good storyline about an interesting family trying to make things better for themselves.
Low Point: Way too much saccharine drama. Nobody cries that much.
Author: Ralph Connor
Publication Date: 1917
Genre: Fiction
I can’t believe I read the whole thing.
The Major has a solid plot—a story about a Canadian family who moves west for a better life. The First World War was at its height during the production of this novel, and it plays a prominent role as its characters prepare for the fight.
The characters are intriguing—a father who despite his honest efforts can’t seem to succeed; a mother and her son who are saints; and daughters who are strong in diverse ways. Their new neighbors come from various regions of the world, all with their own strengths and quirks.
However, Ralph Connor never knew a short sentence. In one instance, a single sentence consists of 118 words and 15 commas. One must read it three or four times to comprehend it. And it wasn’t worth the effort. This is common throughout the book.
The characters, though interesting, are overly dramatic. The dialog is way over the top, even for the early 20th century, and often accompanied by sentimental tears. The characters are reminiscent of actors in the silent movies who had to use exaggerated physical expressions instead of dialog. It’s just too much to take.
Good storyline. Interesting characters. Poor execution.
By the way, my copy of The Major has the inscription, “To Frank from Berta. Christmas 1918.” I really hope Frank enjoyed the book. Even if I didn’t.
Sources For This Book
Free eBook (Project Gutenberg): The Major
Free Audiobook (LibriVox): Not available
Available to Purchase: AbeBooks, Biblio, Thriftbooks
